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Category: colorado

The San Antonio Spurs were thought to be looking for immediate help in the NBA draft Thursday night, and they did exactly that, selecting Colorado senior combo guard Derrick White.

FILE – In this Jan. 28, 2017, file photo, Colorado guard Xavier Johnson, left, hoists guard Derrick White at the end of the team’s NCAA college basketball game against Oregon in Boulder, Colo. Colorado won 74-65. The San Antonio Spurs selected White with the 29th pick in the NBA draft Thursday, June 22. (AP Photo/David Zalubowsk, File))

At 23, White was one of the oldest players in the draft. Yet he only played one year of Division I ball. The 6-foot-5-inch Colorado native was not recruited by major programs when he came out of high school as a spindly 6-footer, 150-pound senior at Legend High School in Parker, Colo. He was unrated by recruiting services and had zero NCAA Division I offers.

“It’s crazy to be here now, part of the Spurs organization,” White told reporters. “Coming up as I did, you have the doubters; you just put a little chip on your shoulder. It was humbling at times, but it made me work harder and never be satisfied. It drove me to keep getting better.”

He attended Division II Colorado-Colorado Springs, had a late growth spurt up to reach 6-5 and saw his game take off, posting averages of 25.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.2 assists by his third year. He transferred to Colorado for his senior season and averaged 18.1 points, 4.4 assists and 4.1 rebounds while making the All-Pac-12 defensive team.

“He’s not really a point guard; he’s not really an off-guard. He’s a guard and he can shoot the ball,” Spurs General Manager R.C. Buford said.

“We think he can defend at a higher level than he has up until this point. When you have to do so much for the team like he did at Colorado, he couldn’t get in foul trouble. He needed his energy to score.”

White’s stock continued to rise in postseason workouts and at the NBA combine. The American-Statesman rated him 28th overall. He went 29th. Scouts say he lacks elite athleticism but is a solid jump shooter and a creative scorer around the rim. White ranked in the top 10 among all Division I players this season with a 62.2 percent success rate finishing around the rim in half-court settings.

White was one of four high-major players to average 18 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds. The others were the first pick in the draft, Markelle Fultz, Dennis Smith (chosen 10th by the Mavericks) and Wooden Award winner Frank Mason of Kansas (who went to New Orleans).

Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) throws as he is hit by Texas defensive tackle Paul Boyette Jr. (93) in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Stillwater, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)

Pencil in Oklahoma State as a favorite in the 2017 Big 12 football race.

Quarterback Mason Rudolph and his favorite target, James Washington, announced Tuesday at an Alamo Bowl press conference in San Antonio that they will return to school in 2017.

Rudolph would have been one of the top QBs had he entered the NFL Draft. The 6-foot-4-inch, 235-pound junior was projected anywhere from late first round to early third round.

Washington, from the small Texas town of Stamford, was seen as a third-round pick. The 6-foot, 200-pound junior is the Cowboys premier deep threat.

Two-time defending Big 12 champion Oklahoma is likely to lose quite a few players to the NFL Draft, which will elevate Oklahoma State’s status.

Linebacker Chad Whitener is the other Cowboy considering leaving early for the NFL, but there are indications he, too, will stay in Stillwater.

Oklahoma State plays Pac-12 South Division winner Colorado on Thursday night in the Alamo.

Rudolph threw for 3,777 yards with 25 touchdowns and only four interceptions this season. It was his second straight 3,000-yard passing season.

Washington caught 62 balls for 1,209 yards and nine touchdowns. He is fourth on the school’s career receiving yards list with 2,752 yards.

The Buffaloes also were trolling the Wolverines on social media. Colorado will be wearing the same uniform combination that the Buffaloes sported in 1994 when they used a tipped Hail Mary pass for the victory.

He recently visited California, where Jake Spavital, formerly of Texas A&M, is the new offensive coordinator.

Now, Auburn also appears to be a possibility for Webb, who confirmed the news to ESPN.com. Auburn was on Webb’s recruiting radar back in January, but he canceled that visit after he committed to the Buffaloes.

The Tigers quarterback situation still is very much undecided. Coach Gus Malzahn is looking at three candidates, senior Jeremy Johnson, sophomore Sean White and junior college transfer John Franklin. Malzahn hasn’t named a starter.

Last season, Auburn ranked 110th nationally in total offense. That’s not a good look for Malzahn, who had been known as an offensive innovator.

At Tech, Webb lost his starting job to Patrick Mahomes, who is emerging as one of the top talents in the Big 12.

In his career Webb has thrown for 5,557 yards and 46 touchdowns.

He’s completing his degree at Tech and will be eligible to play this fall.

Texas Tech junior quarterback Davis Webb will transfer to Colorado and is expected to be eligible this coming season.

Webb is on the verge of completing his degree, so he will not have to sit out a year. He will likely start for the Buffaloes, whose three-year starter Sefo Liufau has a serious foot injury and is expected to miss the 2016 season.

Webb planned to visit Auburn but canceled that stop.

“I just know it’s a good fit with Colorado,” he told FOX Sports on Wednesday. “I really like what Coach Mac (Mike MacIntyre) and (OC) Coach (Brian) Lindgren are doing with the offense. I really feel Colorado is just a couple of players from taking that next step.”

The Buffaloes were 4-9 last year and 1-8 in the Pac-12 Conference, though they were more competitive than in years past.

“I like that Colorado is scheduled to play eight preseason Top 25 teams,” Webb told FOX Sports. “I’ll have a good chance to showcase my ability on the road at Oregon and at Michigan. I will get plenty of exposure to pursue my dream of playing in the NFL.”

Webb, 6 feet 5 inches and 220 pounds, is a former three-star recruit from Prosper, Texas. He finished his Red Raiders career with 46 touchdown passes and 22 interceptions. Webb threw for 2,718 yards, completing 62.6 percent, in 2013, and had 2,539 yards, completing 61.2 percent, in 2014. Last year he lost the starting job to Patrick Mahomes.

Davis Webb, the former starting quarterback at Texas Tech, is garnering lots of attention from schools welcoming his transfer.

Webb is visiting Colorado this weekend. He also plans to visit Auburn next month, according to Fox Sports, which says Webb also is talking to more schools in Power Five conferences.

Webb will graduate from Tech this spring. He’ll be immediately eligible at his next school. Webb decided to transfer, rather than stay in Lubbock, because of the presence of budding star Patrick Mahomes.

“I’m just looking for the right school, right fit and for the opportunity to compete for the starting job and to win a lot of games,” Webb said.

He started 14 games during his career at Tech. But this season Webb was beaten out by Mahomes, who in the bowl game surpassed 5,000 passing yards for the season. He was only the 12th quarterback in NCAA history to achieve the 5,000 mark.

As Christmas arrives, the SMU Mustangs are one of five undefeated teams still standing among 351 Division I programs in men’s college basketball.

LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 23: Head coach Larry Brown of the Southern Methodist Mustangs talks with tournament most valuable player Nic Moore #11 after SMU defeated the Colorado Buffaloes 70-66 to win the championship game of the 2015 Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on December 23, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

SMU made it 11-0 by beating Colorado 70-66 for the Las Vegas Classic championship late Wednesday. The Buffaloes entered with an 11-1 record and are expected to be one of the top teams in the Pacific 12 Conference.

The 18th-ranked Mustangs are an American Athletic Conference favorite along with UConn and Cincinnati, but the Ponies are under NCAA sanctions for rules violations and serving a postseason ban.

Coach Larry Brown served a nine-game, 33-day suspension for his role in the transgressions. He returned a winner for this tournament. In the title game, SMU did not make a single three-point shot. Colorado nailed 12 of 27 treys.

“I never thought I’d see us not make a (three-pointer) and the other team make 12 and we still won,” Brown said. “Colorado is the best team we’ve played by far. I’m really proud of our guys.”

Point guard Nic Moore, the tournament MVP, scored 16 points.

Entering Christmas week, there were six undefeated teams. Surprising Texas Tech took one down Tuesday, beating Arkansas-Little Rock, 65-53. The Red Raiders are 9-1 and have one more non-conference game left, home to Richmond (8-3) on Dec. 29 before opening Big 12 play on Jan. 2 against Texas (8-3) in Lubbock.

The first game is Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. on ESPN2 when seventh-ranked Iowa State entertains Colorado. Preseason first-team All-American forward Georges Niang leads the Cyclones, who will be making their debut under new coach Steve Prohm. The Buffaloes are forecast to be a middle-of-the-pack Pac-12 team.

The highlight game of the night is Stephen F. Austin at No. 22 Baylor at 8:30 p.m. on Fox Sports Southwest Plus and FCS Atlantic.

The Lumberjacks have won 61 games over their last two seasons and three straight Southland Conference championships. They showcase preseason conference player of the year pick Thomas Walkup.

The Bears counter with a strong frontcourt headlined by rebounding machine Rico Gathers. Baylor is 33-5 against in-state opponents over the last four years, and the Bears have advanced deeper into postseason play than any of Texas’ 21 Division I team in each of those seasons.

Texas goes all the way to Shanghai, China, to play its opener against Washington. That game is at 9 p.m. on ESPN. It is the start of the Shaka Smart era, the coach who took Virginia Commonwealth to the Final Four. The Huskies are expected to be one of the worst teams in the Pac-12.

Texas Tech’s opener against High Point also will be on some Fox Sports Southwest Plus outlets in the state at 8 p.m. High Point has won the last two Big South titles but lost each time in the conference tournament.

BIG 12 PRESEASON POWER POLL

This year’s ranking followed by last year’s final ranking in our poll; last year’s record; this year’s opener and a comment:

Rnk (prev) Team…..W-L…..Next opponent…..Comment

1. (1) Kansas…..27-9 (13-5)…..vs. Northern Colorado (15-15), Fri……This summer Jayhawks won eight games in 11 days to capture gold at World University Games in South Korea.

Texas A&M and Colorado have agreed to a home-and-home football series.

The two teams, both former members of the Big 12, will play in 2020 and 2021.

Colorado will play at College Station, Sept. 19, 2020. A&M will play the Buffaloes in Boulder, Sept. 11, 2021.

The two schools last met in 2008. The Aggies won 24-17.

“We are excited to renew the series with Colorado — a familiar opponent and road destination for our fans,” A&M athletic director Eric Hyman said in a statement. “Texas A&M has played some great games against Colorado in the past, both in and out of conference play. We look forward to hosting a Pac-12 opponent at Kyle Field and then returning to scenic Colorado.”

A&M also has scheduled non-conference games against UCLA (2016 and 2017), Clemson (2018 and 2019) and Notre Dame (2024 and 2025).

TCU announced Wednesday that it had scheduled future football games with both Stanford and Colorado.

From the TCU press release:

The addition of Colorado and Stanford adds to future TCU non-conference schedules that include a trip to Minnesota in the 2015 season opener and upcoming home-and-home series with Arkansas (2016-17), Ohio State (2018-19) and Cal (2020-21).

The Horned Frogs and Buffaloes will meet for the first time in their history on Sept. 3, 2022 in Boulder. TCU and Colorado will then play Sept. 2, 2023 in Fort Worth. TCU and Stanford will meet in the 2024 and 2027 campaigns. The Horned Frogs and Cardinals will play Aug. 31, 2024 in Palo Alto and Sept. 4, 2027 in Fort Worth.

TCU and Stanford have met just twice previously. The Horned Frogs won both games, 38-36 at Stanford in 2007 and 31-14 in Fort Worth in 2008.

With Cal, Colorado and Stanford, TCU will have six games against Pac-12 opponents in an eight-year stretch (2020-27).